Abstract

Aims:

Recurrent infections and activation of the inflammatory response affect the prognosis of cystic fibrosis (CF). We investigated the relationship between inflammatory response, infection, and pulmonary function in CF.

Main methods:

A clinical-cross-sectional study was conducted with 86 subjects: control group (CG, n = 31, the same age and sex of the CF group), and CF group (CFG, n = 55, age: 1–16 years), further distributed into CFG negative or positive bacteriology (CFGB−/CFGB+), and CFG negative or positive Pseudomonas aeruginosa (CFGPa−/CFGPa+). Using the Wald test, multiple linear regression (95% confidence interval) was performed between CG and CFG, and between CG and each of the CF subgroups (CFGB−/CFGB+ and CFGPa−/CFGPa+). The inflammatory markers evaluated were myeloperoxidase (MPO), adenosine deaminase (ADA) activities, interleukin-1beta (IL-1β), tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α), C-reactive protein (CRP), nitric oxide metabolites (NOx) levels, and total and differential leukocyte counts.

The inflammatory response characterized by the increase of MPO, IL-1β, and CRP is determinant for CF. Also leukocytosis due to neutrophilia determines the pulmonary function deficiency in this disease.